San José, Costa Rica - Monday 26 July 2004

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Guanacastecos celebrated the 180th anniversary of their Annexation, when the "Partido de Nicoya"  joined Costa Rica, with traditional song, dance, costumes and foods of the region. Click for larger image!

San José to be a World Class City
Johnny Araya, the Mayor of San José, has declared his city as a "zone for urban renovation". As downtown San José is growing up. it is going through it's growing pains - congested routes blocked by too many vehicles and street vendors, oversized signs that hang over unto the streets, lack of sufficient garbage receptacles, etc.

Guanacaste Celebrates 180th Anniversary
Guanacaste celebrated it's 180th year of the 'Anexión del Partido de Nicoya' over the weekend. The festivities included a visit by president Able Pacheco, who told Guanacastecos that it pains him of the poverty in the region and that his hands are tied as the Fiscal Plan is held up in the legislature.

Farmers For A Day
Sixty families in Guatuso, Upala, Los Chiles and San Ramón spent a year learning about tourists that come to Costa Rica, what motivates them and training on how to better serve them, in their new tourist service of "farmer for a day"!

¢10.000 and the Job is Yours
An old scheme that is taking on new life is taking special advantage of working seeking employment.

News Briefs
In early July, while Municipal Police attempted to remove the Street Vendors from the streets, several Vendors attacked a police officer.

Chavez warns of investigations on opposition for planning violence Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday that his security forces are investigating opponents for planning violence to disrupt next month's recall referendum on his rule. Mexico, Cuba restore full diplomatic ties with ambassadors returning to posts Mexico and Cuba restored full diplomatic relations on Sunday with their ambassadors returning to their posts, thus marking the end of a diplomatic crisis that erupted between the two countries in May. Brazil to establish national security force to help curb street violence Brazil is planning to set up a national security force to help state police handle the deteriorating street violence, a government official said on Sunday. International News from the New York Times

SPECIAL REPORTS AMERICAS SOCIAL FORUM: Indigenous People Seek Alliances Over 10,000 people will attend the more than 300 activities scheduled for the First Social Forum of the Americas, which opens Sunday in the Ecuadorian capital. The regional gathering forms part of the World Social Forum (WSF), which every year draws thousands of activists and representatives of non-governmental organisations opposed to the direction taken by the globalisation process. Most of the 700 indigenous people from around the region taking part in the Second Continental Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nationalities of Abya Yala ('America' in the language of the Kuna Indians of Panama) which opened Wednesday, will join the Social Forum when their meeting ends Sunday. COSTA RICA TRAVEL Ten Ways To Take "Cost" of Costa Rica Go during the green, or rainy, season (May through November), when hotel and rental car rates are cheaper. A car rental can go for $55 a day, fro example, during the the high season, $35 a day in the "green" season. And you can often save  30 percent or more on hotels and tours. THE TAKE:  YOUR TAKE "This Muñeca has had enough" You are the most beautiful flower in the garden,” a brave Tico told me as I sat on a cliff in Manuel Antonio watching the sunset with my mother. I bit my lips not to laugh and that created a smile. So he kept on. “I want to make you my wife here on this cliff. We get married and I take care of you forever,” he insisted. My mother’s face turned white like Casper. I asked him his name. “My name David and I make a good husband for you. You no pay for nothing. I take care of you. My beautiful flower. The best princess in all the world. You are a princess, preciosa.”

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